Disaster Survival Tactics in the Aftermath

Surviving the Aftermath

Depending on the situation, you may have anywhere from a few seconds to a week or more to make preparations to survive a disaster scenario and its aftermath. Tornadoes and hurricanes affect large regions of the United States every year, yet few people are prepared or have a plan of action to deal with these common natural disasters. Unfortunately, the average American’s survival plan is FEMA. We’ve all seen the “disaster after the disaster” that occurred following Hurricane Katrina. The fact is the federal government is ill equipped to deal with widespread, large-scale disasters. You need to be ready NOW!

Common Natural and Man Made Disasters

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Earthquakes

Floods

Tsunamis

Wildfires

Blizzards

Disaster Preparedness

If you live in a region where natural disasters are common, you should have a survival plan of action. This includes having a deep larder of supplies on hand to keep you alive in the aftermath. Natural disasters often results in partial or complete grid down situations. Fear, panic and chaos often result within a few days without access to the basic survival essentials; shelter, water, food, fire and basic medical care.

FEMA: Incapable and Flawed

If Hurricane Katrina didn’t demonstrate to every American that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is not capable of adequately responding to large-scale natural disasters, you were either asleep at the wheel or willfully ignorant. The federal government has failed to provide timely, useful support to tens of thousands of Americans in the aftermath of numerous catastrophic events. Even with the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, FEMA was still woefully unprepared for the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy seven years later.

If you have any doubt about the need for knowing survival tactics now, just do a quick internet search on the effectiveness of the federal government’s ability to respond to major natural disaster. Before FEMA can even be activated, the following “Major Disaster Process” must occur:

Local Government Responds, supplemented by neighboring communities and volunteer agencies. If overwhelmed, turn to the state for assistance;

The State Responds with state resources, such as the National Guard and state agencies;

A Major Disaster Declaration is requested by the governor, based on the damage assessment, and an agreement to commit state funds and resources to the long-term recovery;

FEMA Evaluates the request and recommends action to the White House based on the disaster, the local community and the state’s ability to recover;

The President approves the request or FEMA informs the governor it has been denied. This decision process could take a few hours or several weeks depending on the nature of the disaster.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not hanging around for days or weeks while our government bureaucracy wades through miles of red tape to get the aid flowing. I will be prepared to use Survival Tactics NOW!